Tempe police arrest three men who were allegedly breaking into apartments through open windows and doors, occasionally encountering residents

The Tempe Police Department arrested two men Monday in connection with a string of burglaries around the area.

A police spokesman said 18-year-old Chris Vega and 18-year-old Noah Cobbs were detained as part of a monthlong investigation into a pattern of Tempe break-ins. Detectives also believe Nathaniel Goudeau, 18, helped the men get rid of the stolen property, according to Tempe police.

The investigation that led to their arrests began about four weeks earlier when police noticed that burglars were entering in open doors and windows on second-story apartment complexes. The burglars were not breaking and entering, but they were discreetly checking for open entrances to residences and gaining access that way, said Lt. Michael Pooley, a spokesman for the Tempe Police Department.

Police followed Cobbs and Vega for about a week before catching and arresting them in the progress of another burglary near Baseline Road and Mill Avenue, Pooley said. Officials were able to obtain search warrants to their residences, where they found numerous stolen items.

The suspects admitted to the crimes and were compliant with authorities once they were arrested, Pooley said.

In an interview with police, the two men admitted they had even run into people who were home while they were burglarizing the apartments on several occasions. At different points, they found one person sleeping, another showering and another walking through their apartment, police said.

Noah Cobbs(Photo: Courtesy of Tempe Police Department)

Pooley said there might be more victims. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Tempe Police Department at 480-350-8311.

Cobbs and Vega were taken into custody on multiple counts of residential burglary, attempted burglary, trafficking of stolen property, and trespassing.